Research and innovation
When we look toward the future, we’re excited about the ways we can continue to help customers in new and exciting ways. We’ve never backed down from a challenge or an opportunity to revolutionize our company.
Child and passenger safety
In 1997, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm formed Partners for Child Passenger Safety.
During the decade-long PCPS effort, significant safety gains were made.
By 2005, State Farm became an original member of the Industry Advisory Board for the Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS) Their focus is on advancing the safety of children, youth, and young adults by facilitating scientific inquiry into childhood and young adult injuries and translating these findings into commercial applications and educational programs for preventing future injuries.
State Farm community volunteers began hosting Child Safety Day events in 2004. These included car seat inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians. State Farm associates and agents completed four-day child passenger safety technician training and volunteered time with the aim of teaching parents and caregivers to properly buckle children. State Farm hosted events at more than 2,500 sites nationwide and inspected over 90,000 child safety seats.
In, 1997 motor vehicle crashes were the No. 1 killer of children.
The PCPS created the world's largest national child-focused surveillance system, collecting information from over 875,000 crashes involving more than 600,000 children from birth through age 15.
Since the inception of PCPS 48 states passed booster seat laws.
Child occupant deaths were reduced by 15 percent and motor vehicle crashes are no longer the leading cause of death of children ages 4 and under.
Driving
We’ve worked to enhance safety in cars and on roads from the moment we saw trends in driving habits and accidents. Through efforts such as research, public education, and the advocacy of policy and standards, State Farm is advancing scientific knowledge and innovative solutions surrounding transportation.
Drones at State Farm
These days, birds and planes aren’t the only things in the skies. We’re living in a new age and technology is everywhere. Drones are a prime example of that. We decided to harness this technology and use it to break convention and propel our neighborhoods forward.
In 2015, State Farm became the first insurer granted permission by the FAA to test drones for commercial use. We used this technology to deploy drones for visual inspection of roof damage and catastrophic losses. In 2017, this expanded to the use of Claims drone pilots for aerial inspection of roof damage.
Following the devastation from Hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018, State Farm was the only insurance company granted a waiver by the FAA to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Operations over People (OOP) for catastrophe damage assessment.
Though we no longer use drones, check out our video to see for yourself how State Farm took to the skies and changed the way we know insurance.
State Farm was the first insurer licensed to use drones for claims evaluations.
Due to the risk of interfering with commercial aviation and potential injury to the public, drones are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
State Farm was the first company to also receive a national waiver for continuing BVLOS and OOP operations for catastrophe assessments.
Drone Innovation
Check out how innovation improved how we take care of customers and get the job done.
The Research and Innovation Lab (TRAIL)
In January 1999, State Farm opened The Research and Innovation Laboratory (TRAIL) in Bloomington, Illinois. The research team located at this 26,000 square foot facility offers a broad range of expertise which includes architectural design, construction materials, and building codes and standards.
The TRAIL team uses research, data, and business knowledge to educate policyholders and the public on various building-related issues. It promotes data-driven industry change to help protect homes and businesses. The team also evaluates, develops, and/or promotes technologies and other solutions that help policyholders manage the risks associated with owning or renting a home.
The collective knowledge and capabilities at TRAIL help State Farm meet customers’ needs today and into the future by providing innovative, research-based solutions.
Impact Wall at the Good Neighbor Center
Since State Farm opened for business in 1922, the Company remains dedicated to the needs of customers, and to the safety of all motorists and homeowners across the nation. The Company’s goal is to understand customers’ needs and wants and help them manage and recover from risk – whether on the road or at home. State Farm conducts qualitative, quantitative, and user-experience research to inform efforts. State Farm uses a research-to-action philosophy as a guide for many efforts.
If you’re in the Bloomington area, stop by the center to see the display up close and in detail.